The horrific fire that broke out at a ski resort bar in Switzerland on the last night of the year has left forty people dead and one hundred and sixteen others injured. The tragedy at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana raised public fury when it was revealed that the premises had not been inspected for fire-safety for five years, when it became compulsory annually.
How five years of missed inspections contributed to the disaster
Le Constellation bar local president Nicolas Féraud has confirmed the astonishing admission that there had been no inspections between the years of 2020 and 2025. The local government has taken full responsibility for the catastrophic failure, with Féraud adding that they “bitterly regret this.”
The bar did not have the minimum fire safety equipment, such as fire alarms, which, according to the officials, “were not a requirement in such a facility.” Moreover, the acoustic soundproofing foam lining the ceiling had never undergone any fire tests. This made the situation even more deadly, given the presence of flammable materials. When asked about the five years that had passed without any inspection, Féraud confessed that he “had no answer” for this.
It was found that the sparklers inside the champagne bottles sparked the disastrous fire when brought close to the ceiling. According to the Swiss attorney general, Béatrice Pilloud:
“All indications are that the fire began with incandescent candles inside champagne bottles.”
The fire instantly ignited the untested fire-resistant soundproofing material, resulting in a lethal flashover that quickly filled the basement club with toxic smoke.
Sparklers light up a deadly fire in mere seconds
Jacques Moretti, who owns the bar and is forty-nine years old, is being investigated for possible manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm, and arson as an accused, together with his wife, Jessica, who is also forty years old. However, some disturbing information has come out about Moretti’s past crimes, as he has been convicted of soliciting prostitutes for his massage parlor in Geneva, known as the “Hot Rabbit” case.
The disturbing allegations include past convictions for fraud, kidnapping, and false imprisonment that date back over decades. Ex-waitress Sarah claimed that Moretti encouraged employees to use their sexuality, telling BFM that she did not comply because that was “not in line with my values.” Although she has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the club “followed all safety regulations,” Moretti was nowhere to be found when the fire occurred.
The most serious allegations came from former employees who said Le Constellation was a “death trap” with basic safety equipment out of reach when the fire occurred. The fire extinguishers were locked inside storage closets, and the fire exits were also locked as partygoers were trapped inside with the rapidly spreading fire in the packed basement. These allegations have led authorities to immediately withdraw operating licenses from other business ventures the couple is involved in.
Teen hero loses life saving friend, families call for justice
Among the forty victims of various nationalities were twenty-six teenagers aged between fourteen and eighteen. Several of these were so badly burned that they could only be identified by DNA testing. Benjamin Johnson, an eighteen-year-old hero boxer, died attempting to save a friend. Benjamin, whose father is a British expat named Matthew Johnson of Bradford, was hailed as a hero by the Swiss Boxing Federation.
The reputation of Switzerland regarding strict safety regulations has been thoroughly undermined by this avoidable disaster that shook the nation. The incident brings forth how countries that regulate well can still fail due to repeated lapses in safety regulations. While families continue to mourn their lost loved ones, calls for comprehensive safety reforms will ensure that innocent people never lose their lives due to negligence in similar disasters.
